FTA between BD, Kosovo to promote bilateral trades

Staff Reporter :
Chamber leaders have emphasised on framing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Kosovo to promote bilateral trades and investments.
They also said Bangladesh’s readymade garments and pharmaceutical products have huge export potential in Kosovo.
The businesses came up with the remarks at a meeting with the visiting Deputy Foreign Minister of Kosovo Kreshnik Ahmeti at a city hotel on Monday.
During the meeting, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) President Rizwan Rahman informed that bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Kosovo was $0.31 million only in 2020. But, it increased to $1.41 million in 2021.
“Virtual Business to Business (B2B) match-making between the businessmen of both the countries will ensure knowing each other as well as create scope of new ventures. Kosovo can hire our IT professionals, engineers and skilled work force from Bangladesh,” the DCCI president said.
“The framing FTA between Bangladesh and Kosovo may facilitate to promote trade, investment, commercial and economic interests as RMG and pharmaceutical products of Bangladesh show huge export potential in Kosovo,” he said.
Both the countries can capitalise their expertise and competitive advantage of producing their goods and services for enhancing mutual trade and investment, Rizwan added.  
Kreshnik Ahmeti, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, said that 92 per cent of businesses in Kosovo are SMEs and 98 per cent are small and medium enterprises.
“Kosovo is a free market but to know each other reciprocal exchange of business delegation can play a pivotal role. The foreign and economic policies of Kosovo normally do not change,” he said.
He further said last year FDI to Kosovo was good and they are transforming their coal based power to renewable and also suggested that a joint business committee and B2B forum can be established to boost bilateral trade.
DCCI Senior Vice President Arman Haque, Vice President Monowar Hossain, Anirban Neogi, Director of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bangladesh and Ambassador of Kosovo in Dhaka Guner Ureya were also present in the meeting.